FireShipping

This article is about shipping. As hints and evidence for ships are mostly speculation, this page may contain personal points of view.

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File:Fireshipping.jpg

Macey and Ash

FireShipping is the belief of a romantic relationship between Ash and Macey. The term comes from Macey's adoration of Fire-types, along with the common association with fire as a representation of passion, which both him and her embrace wholeheartedly. This Ship is considered one-sided canon on Macey's side.

This Ship was used as a minor subplot in the Silver Conference arc in the anime. One of Ash's early ventures involving girls who develop a crush on him that the audience is directly privy to, Macey is one of the characters that sets up the stage for future unrequited Ships involving Ash, as the girls involved are technically one-off characters. This Ship is not cited often as the other one-sided Ships are, nor does it appear grossly popular, as it debuted within the series itself (as opposed to the movies) while Misty was still apart of the group, and likely conflicted directly with the still-ragingly popular Template:S, whereas fans earlier could pretend the movies never happened within the anime's timeline.

Story Evidence

• Love, Pokémon Style

When they first meet, Macey has made a point of personally tracking Ash down to get a good sense of one of her two opponents for the semi-finals of the Silver Conference, though Ash has already misplaced her face after seeing her paired off with him (and also the currently unmet Jackson) on the bracket board. Once Macey makes plain her intentions, however, they get off to the immediate mindset of competitive rivalry, prompting to start battling before they are even scheduled to. But before they can begin, Team Rocket intervenes, capturing Ash's Pikachu and Macey's Vulpix.

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The beginning of Macey's infatuation

Putting their battle on hold, Ash, Macey, and Ash's friends race after the cycling Team Rocket in an attempt to get their Pokémon back. There is no way to catch up with them, so Ash uses an unorthodox shortcut: sliding down the sides of the steep hill bracing the snaking road Team Rocket is using. Macey hesitates in following him, but ultimately does so. This proves disastrous, as Macey immediately slips and starts tumbling down the hill. Ash manages to catch her, and the two stop their tumbling descent in a typical fashion. Ash softens her impact by being the one to land against the jutting rock and Macey is stunned by Ash's heroics. After he runs off, telling her to stay behind and leave the issue to him, Macey is seen with with an expression of pure captivation and admiration.

Once Pikachu and Vulpix are properly rescued, Macey begins describing Ash in characteristics indicating hero worship, while her expression is not unlike the one he left her with the scene before. She begins waxing poetics, acting the appreciative princess role to Ash's knight, asking him how he can repay her and if they can go to lunch together.

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Misty about to cut into Macey and Ash's "bonding moment"

Misty recognizes where Macey is going with this, and cuts in, her jealousy acting up. Macey, in response, starts slamming Water-types, finishing up by asking if Misty was Ash's girlfriend. Misty, not at all willing to reveal any Template:S for Ash, claims to be his coach, and Macey sees her opening, telling her to keep out of his "personal life." She continues, telling Misty that Macey and Ash needed to talk about their future together. The chance never comes up, however, because Ash has already begun to run off, claiming he has to get ready for his upcoming battle. Whether or not he knows what he's running from—"getting ready" just an excuse to escape or his honest desire to start training immediately—is unknown. But Macey isn't distressed at his departure, waving goodbye to him and shouting to him that if she wins their match, he has to treat her to a date.

During their division battle, Macey is as determined as she indirectly promises to be; she's focused enough that she doesn't remark flirtatiously at all. It's only afterward when Ash has won that she makes a comment that causes Misty to become alarmed, citing Ash to be the "man [she] thought he'd be." Later that evening, during sunset, Macey tracks Ash down to show him her new Magcargo, claiming it evolved from the result of their battle and that it'll always remind her of "what [they] shared together." No one getting a word in otherwise, Macey exclaims that their supposed date will need a rain check so she can get ready for her next match against Jackson. As she runs off, she calls him 'sweetie'. Ash, however, only blinks after her in confusion, until he realizes she's as passionate about battling as he is and says she needs to look out for him too.

• Tie One On!

Macey's interaction with Ash comes after he and Jackson draw, giving Ash the victory of their block division. She congratulates him from the stands and promises to cheer him on through the rest of the competition, convinced he'll win the entire tournament.

This article is part of Project Shipping, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each couple in Pokémon.